Do you intend to visit an exhibition?

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• Only cats that have been previously registered may enter and participate in the show. No other cats or animals are allowed.

• All participating cats are at least 4 months old, properly vaccinated, healthy, have paid a registration fee, and undergo a veterinary inspection upon entry (some clubs do not follow this rule; be aware of the risk if you own cats).

• It is common for shows to receive donations to help other NGOs or organizations at the entrance. If possible, please contribute!

• Pay attention to visiting time and try to be quiet; do not wake sleeping cats. Observe them with your eyes.

• Do not touch the cats or their surroundings without the permission of the responsible exhibitor. They are bathed and carefully prepared to participate in the beauty judging. They may be resting or wary due to being in an unfamiliar environment.

• The cats are in the show to be judged by the judges. It is a beauty contest where judges evaluate each cat according to specific criteria by entity or federation, as explained in detail below.

• Winning cats accumulate titles and usually receive prizes from event sponsors (food, trophies, rosettes, gifts).

• Generally, the breeds of each cat are displayed in their enclosures, and exhibitors have business cards available for further information or future contact.

• The cats present are not for sale. The sale of kittens at the show is prohibited.

• Some clubs may have cats from an NGO available for adoption in another area. This is announced beforehand on the club's website and on the day of the event at the venue.

• If you want to photograph the cats present, do not use the flash. It can harm the cats' eyes, scare them, or stress them.

• If a cat is sleeping, let it sleep. They really sleep an average of 16 hours a day. Waking them up can stress or frighten them.

• It's common to find shops selling cat supplies at cat shows. Take advantage of this opportunity to purchase these products and support NGOs, organizations, and those who create handcrafted items.

• If you want to talk to a breeder, wait until they have time. They may be busy preparing, exhibiting, or waiting for their cat's final, and at those times they won't be able to stop and give you their attention. Generally, access areas are already marked.

• Respect the flow of queues and the demarcation of access areas.

• The judges' area is restricted to exhibitors and event organizers. You can watch the cat judging, however, you cannot interrupt or ask questions. If you have any doubts, seek out someone from the event organization.

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How does a cat show work?

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• The announcement is made approximately 2-3 months in advance on social media and the respective club websites. It's also possible to check the websites of the clubs (CBG, Felisul, Amacoon, Rio Cat Clube, Gato Grupo, Clube do Gato do Paraná, Unigat, Felis Catus, Allegro Cat Club) or the FIFE and TICA organizations.

• Exhibitors register their cats in advance. A fee is charged, and there are rules to follow, available on the club websites.

• Mixed-breed cats can also participate, provided they are up-to-date on their vaccinations, bathed, and microchipped (in the case of FIFE clubs), and allow themselves to be touched by strangers (they cannot bite the judge).

• For the first show, the cat and exhibitor do not need to be registered (unless it is a rule of the club's system). However, for points to count towards the national ranking (best of the year) before participating in the next show, registration must be regularized.

• Anyone, even non-breeders, can participate as long as they meet the rules. The club organizes the event venue, and early Saturday morning the exhibitors arrive with their cats. The cats are inspected by veterinarians who check the cat's documents (vaccinations, microchip, health certificate (if required)) and the cat's overall health.

• The exhibitor confirms that all registered cats have arrived, receives the catalog, and the number(s) of the registered cat(s).

• The exhibitor accommodates the cat(s) in their designated area. They must bring water, food, a litter box with cat litter, and a bed for the cat(s)' comfort.

• The exhibitor also brings their grooming supplies to prepare the cat (comb, brush, etc.).

• The catalog shows where and with whom the cat will be judged on both days. Clubs usually have a panel displaying the numbers of the cats to be judged by each judge. 

• The judges receive another catalog where they follow the judging sequence. They only know the breed, standard, color, and number of the cat.

• The person assisting the judge is called Stewart (FIFE) or Clerk (TICA), and they help the judge by cleaning their table after each judging, calling and organizing the cats. Each entity has its own exhibition model.

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FIFE Exhibition

 

The exhibitor presents their cat and brings it to the judge's table. The judge evaluates the cat and converses with the exhibitor, saying what the cat has that is good or what it lacks to reach the ideal breed standard.

• Cats are separated into 4 CATEGORIES according to their coat:

  • 1- Long-haired

  • 2- Semi-long-haired

  • 3- Short-haired

  • 4- Domestic

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• Within these classifications, they judge the cats according to age and sex:

  • Kittens (4-7 months)

  • Juniors (7-10 months)

  • Females

  • Males

  • Spayed females

  • Neutered males

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• If there are 3 cats of the same variety (breed + pattern + color), they choose the best of that variety (BIV - Best of Variety).

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• The judges evaluate cats within the same category by age and sex, selecting the best. They begin by judging cats within their respective categories and classes by breed, until they determine the best in each category and class. The best cat is then nominated for the grand final at the end of the day and receives a certificate confirming their nomination. The final takes place at the end of each day. (NOM)

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• There are usually at least 3 judges, and each one chooses their best cats to compete in the grand final. Then, at the end of the day, the judges vote again for the best cat in each category and class.

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• If all categories and classes are represented by cats, we will have 6 cats per class in each of the 4 categories, that is, a kitten aged 4 to 7 months, a kitten aged 7 to 10 months, an adult male, an adult female, a neutered male, and a neutered female. In total, 24 cats were chosen across the 4 categories.

 

• In the final, or Best in Show (BIS) nomination for each category and class, the judges vote for their favorites. The cat with the most votes wins. In case of a tie, the points are added to the ranking, but to break the tie, they usually draw lots at the club's discretion.

 

• Some clubs, in addition to awarding the best cats in each class and category (BIS), follow the selection process and also hold a Best of the Best award in each class (BOB - Best of the Best) and then a Best of the Show award (BOA - Best over all). However, these last two awards do not count towards the national FIFE ranking.

 

• On Sunday the trial is repeated, but each cat is then evaluated by a different judge.

 

• The cats accumulate points and titles at the shows. More details and rules can be found on the FFB website.

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Credits: Blumenkatzen Ragdolls Cattery Website